Editorial | Govt's Confidence In Voluntary Social Distancing Has Been Proven Wrong

The government's approach towards the Coronavirus outbreak - touted by the PTI's outspoken Murad Saeed as being even the inspiration for US policy! - relied on one idea which was repeatedly expressed by PM Imran Khan. He took the view that it is neither possible nor desirable to compel the Pakistani people into a lockdown. This did raise the question of whether countries in Western Europe, whose reality is far more democratic than Pakistan ever aspired to be, were now being “dictatorial” towards their populations. But in view of the litany of excuses that the federal government cited, on why its hands were tied in the face of various powerful lobbies, one acquiesced to their argument. In doing so, one went against the clearly stated medical-scientific opinion, but one acquiesced nevertheless.

All of this was based on the idea that the Pakistani people – or a significant percentage of them – can be prevailed upon to voluntarily follow global social distancing guidelines. Were critics right to doubt this?

Scenes witnessed across the country in the past 48 hours prove the critics' worst fears true. There is no such thing as social distancing in Pakistan at the moment, except a minority of people who have both the information and resources to be able to socially isolate themselves.

Now that the federal government's confidence in voluntary social distancing has been proven wrong, there are three options before it.

First, to immediately reconsider its lax policy, in the interests of preventing a potential public health disaster. This, of course, sounds like asking for the moon, given our experience with the government.

Second, to wait until (God forbid) the losses of human life due to Covid-19 reach a level where it can build an unassailable case for lockdowns or enforced social distancing. The problem here would be that any emergency measures taken in the future, amidst a situation of panic and pressure, could end up being excessive, poorly managed and uncontrolled.

Third, to let the virus take its course, come what may. References by members of the ruling party to the “herd immunity” approach touted by British PM Boris Johnson and (uncharacteristically) the Swedish government suggest that this may well be the thinking in Islamabad's corridors of power.

In the meanwhile, as figures from the ruling party continue to utter and tweet all sorts of colourful falsehoods about the nature and threat level of the Coronavirus, it becomes difficult to identify precisely what the government is thinking. Pakistan's future with regards to Covid-19 remains terrifyingly uncertain.